Where does Port Adelaide go with Ken Hinkley after humiliating Cats loss? Cornes weighs in

Kane Cornes expects a long external review to take place at Port Adelaide if they crash out of finals in straight sets in 2024, a reality they’re staring down the barrel of after Thursday night’s 54-138 Qualifying Final loss to Geelong.

With a matchup against an in-form Bulldogs or Hawks side next week at the Adelaide Oval, Cornes isn’t certain that the Power will be able to turn things around and as a result is sure that pressure will be heaped on coach Ken Hinkley who is still yet to coach in a Grand Final 12 years into his tenure at Alberton.

Cornes understands that questions over Hinkley’s future will be asked following the Geelong loss and he’s sticking with his thoughts that the Power will have a new head coach in 2025 should they not progress to a Grand Final this September.

“This is where it goes to, absolutely you have to ask the question,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“It's not this week, but I always said right from the start, it’s going to have to be a Grand Final performance in year 12 for him to be coaching next year. That's what I've always said.

“I don't change from that, this week they're going to have to get through, and I don't suspect they're going to be able to turn it around in a week, particularly if Zak Butters doesn't play.

“But if there’s another straight sets exit, there’s going to have to be a long external review of what has gone on at the footy club on the biggest stage.”

If Hinkley is replaced at season’s end, Cornes is pretty certain that the Power will hand the reigns over to assistant Josh Carr who has long been considered the club’s head coach in waiting.

While Cornes does think that Carr will one day make a great senior coach, he urged the club to conduct a wide search for a replacement if Hinkley is ousted at season’s end.

“But the question to you on the reverse is that I think they've made their mind up on Josh Carr,” Cornes said.

“Josh Carr's in the coach's box last night sitting up there looking at the midfield … that's the way that they're going to go. I'm just not sure that's going to solve all the problems.

“When you look at the lack of depth on the list and a playing group that lacks resilience, just changing the coach (might not change things).

“I’m projecting forward to say, ‘This is the group you've got’, there’s no draft picks, Tom Barrass or Josh Battle coming in … this is the squad you’ve got and look, it’s probably the time for a new voice and a circuit breaker, I get all of that.

“But the Port fans that go, ‘Sack Ken Hinkley’, I go, well what’s next? What’s your plan?

“Unless you're going to open it up and try and get the best coach for the club at the time and run a proper process. That's what I would be doing. That's what I've always said.

“Just to go, ‘Here’s the keys’, to Josh Carr – who I love, and think is going to be a great senior coach one day – I just don’t think that solves all of your problems.”

If the Power go down to the Dogs or Hawks next weekend, it’ll be the second straight year that they’ve fallen out of finals without a win despite finishing top four.

As things stand, Hinkley is contracted at Alberton until the end of the 2025 season.